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Budget Software
For those of you just starting out and not wanting to spend a vast amount of money on all the bells and whistles which come with the more expensive software, here are a few recommendations (prices are noted as an indication only):
HTML Editors - budget and freeware
NoteTab Pro ($19.95): Useful as it contains code snippets and scripted tagging elements
EditPlus ($30): Has a good template framework for creating new pages, and a good FTP facility
Arachnophilia (free): A user-friendly HTML editor
HTML-Kit (free): A small and very well featured HTML editor, with a wide selection of plug-ins
Crimson (free): Not the best interface, but includes some useful features as an HTML editor
PSPad (free): An HTML editor also worth considering
Mozilla Suite (free): Integrated within the web browser is Composer, a code editor which allows for WYSIWYG manipulation of page elements as well as direct source eiditing.
NVU (free): Based on the Mozilla Composer, but runs separately. It also has a CSS editor and good form and table support.
NetObjects Fusion: A flexible WYSIWYG editor primarily meant for business and eCommerce sites, and is especially good at handling data-driven sites.
CoffeeCup HTML ($49): An intuitive interface with plenty of templates, images icons, scripts and animations.
Other freeware you may want to consider is: Selida, AceHTML Freeware, Topstyle Lite and Alleycode.
Templates and Snippets
Elated: A selection of free icons, imagery etc.
PageKits: Part of Elated, you can purchase packages from $5 - $40.
Open Source Web Design: Offers free tempates, coding techniques and image files
CSS Layouts
The Noodle Incident: A guide to various CSS layout models
CSS Zen Garden: One you will hear about time and again, it shows how a single HTML file can be transformed in different ways using CSS files.
SSI Developer: a great resource for finding HTML code and CSS for tested layouts.
Image Editors
Photoshop Elements (£62): At a fraction of the cost of the full Photoshop version, this starting point will provide you with a highly functional programme without overfacing you with more features than you made need.
Paintshop Pro (£55): This is a favourite amongst those looking for a highly versatile package without paying top dollar.
ACDSee (£various): offers several comprehensive photo editting packages with user friendly and easy to learn interfaces.
Other free or low-cost image editing tools include: IrfanView, Serif's Web-friendly PhotoPlus, Pixia and GIMP.
Alternatives to Flash
Swish ($100): Undoubtedly the most popular alternative to Macromedia's Flash, it has a similar interface, but leaves out a lot of the complexity.
Other alternatives include: Selteco FlashDesigner ($39), Sothink SWF Quicker ($49), Namo FlashCreator ($45), CoffeeCup's Firestarter ($49), Mix-It ($27), WildFX ($39) or FlaX ($40).
